Our origins story
about us
Story of Bishop Benson Ekuwom — "The Desert Boy", and the birth of Glory Outreach Ministries (GOM).
Where it All started
A Calling in the Wilderness
Bishop Benson Ekuwom, affectionately known in Turkana as “The Desert Boy,” carries a story of radical obedience to God’s call. Born in a large polygamous family as the 38th child, he was raised among the nomadic Turkana people—where resources were scarce, tradition was strong, and the Gospel was nearly unknown.
At the age of seven, Benson had a vivid dream: he saw a map of Africa and a tear from his eye fell on the northern part of Kenya. It wasn’t until later that he realized God was calling him to his own people. Still, the desire to escape to a distant island remained—until God persistently whispered, “To your own people… to your own people.”
When he was 17 years old, the call became crystal clear. He recalls, “I could hear the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Son, go, speak and heal the nations.’ And I replied, ‘Me? A Turkana? Could go speak and heal the nations?’” Yet God’s call did not fade—it only grew louder.
The First steps
Birth of a Vision
Benson eventually embraced the call. After studying at Daystar University and training at the International School of Missions (ISOM) in Thika, Kenya, he returned to Turkana with a bold vision: to plant 100 churches in 10 years. He walked for miles, often without food or water, and preached in villages where Jesus’ name had never been heard.
One life-changing moment came after a long, exhausting journey. Collapsing under a tree, Benson was revived by a shepherd boy with camel blood. That night, he heard cries from a pregnant woman abandoned by her village. With nothing but a razor blade and faith, he helped her deliver triplets. That woman later became the pastor of this great church.
What it took
The Price of Obedience
The path was never easy. “Sometimes,” Benson shares, “you are bit by a snake or a scorpion, but I still press on to the calling and the voice that I heard—the calling of God in my life.”
He’s walked hundreds of kilometers, sometimes sleeping outside in riverbeds. At times, he had no food for days. In one season, his children made chapatis out of mud and prayed over them in faith. God miraculously provided.
Despite the danger, rejection, and extreme conditions, the vision took root and multiplied. Today, there are 177 churches planted in Turkana alone. But the vision didn’t stop at Kenya’s borders. Through God's leading, Bishop Benson and his team now serve among 17 different tribes in Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, and even in nations that cannot be publicly mentioned for security reasons.
The Birth of a Ministry
Glory Outreach Ministries Is Born
Out of this journey, Glory Outreach Ministries was birthed —a Christ-centered ministry born through prayer. Benson says, "God called me many years ago, and I continue to press on, remembering how strongly His call came to me when I was 17."
Bshp. Benson is married to Faith Akiro, and they are blessed with seven children—four girls and three boys: Joel, Prudence, Heli, Debora, Axel, Jidden, and little Alilla (also known as Trevor).
He shares with deep gratitude, “All my kids love the Lord. That makes me a happy father. I am so grateful to God that even if He calls me home today, my children will carry this vision forward to the end—to the unreached people groups.”
The Ongoing Mission
Glory Outreach Ministries continues to grow as a testimony to what God can do through one surrendered life. Whether through prayer, sponsorship, or walking alongside the mission, there’s always a place for you in this story of faith, sacrifice, and revival in the desert.
“Jesus is my principal, my captain, and my coordinator. We’re just working alongside Him, because He has already done it all.”
- Bishop Benson Ekuwom